Racconta gli avvenimenti dell'Italia unita, dalla presa di Roma ad oggi, occupandosi non soltanto della storia politica, ma approfondendo anche gli aspetti dell'economia, della vita sociale e familiare, della cultura, della vita religiosa e della demografia.
Martin Clark was a British historian noted for his work on modern Italy. After obtaining his degree at Cambridge, Clark gained his PhD at Birkbeck College. In 1965 he was appointed assistant lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. He remained there at the politics department until his retirement in 2001.
Clearly a basic work, a reference point for further development and correction. Concise presentation, with the fascist period as strongest part. The post-war period has a strong interpretive emphasis, with a particularly weak ending (everything seemed good in 1982). The focus is on the economic development, with a rather conservative slant (pro free market, very critical versus trade unions).